Dialogue, Not Propaganda

Thank you for publishing the article in the March 2 issue about the use of propaganda to create hatred of and violence toward “others.” I have seen that kind of manipulative propaganda many times in the media, including network news programs. By disseminating news reports and photographic or video images that in effect portray these “others” as the enemy, the media are perpetuating hatred and justifying violence and war.

Despite some of the images shown on television that may have suggested otherwise, I know that most people throughout the world, including people in Arab countries, were shocked and saddened by the events of 9/11. Most Arabic people were empathic and sympathetic concerning the loss of lives. More recently, I saw news footage of American soldiers who, prior to their departure for the war in Iraq, were watching a clip of a video taken immediately after 9/11 of “some Arabs” who appeared to look happy about the terrorist attacks. Such reports only incite hatred and violence and validate and justify a war that is wounding or killing thousands of people on both sides and resulting in millions of Iraqi refugees living under horrendous circumstances.

We, as psychiatrists, have ethical, social, moral, and medical obligations to demand an end to the war in Iraq, as well as conflicts in other places. We, along with other mental health professionals, should encourage dialogue and compromise, as we do with our patients, to prevent more casualties and more mental illness. It is also our obligation to work toward ending the use of the media as a propaganda tool that spreads fear and violence.

As physicians, our major responsibility is to heal others, so why are we doing nothing to help stop the wars in Iraq and other places and put an end to the huge public health disasters they cause? It seems to me that we are abdicating our responsibilities as physicians.